Building on initial calls for de-escalation, China has ramped up diplomatic efforts including Foreign Minister Wang Yi's outreach to 11 nations and special envoy Zhai Jun's regional shuttle diplomacy to secure an immediate ceasefire in the US-Israel-Iran conflict, now in its 12th day.
The conflict began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran without UN authorization amid ongoing US-Iran talks, escalating Middle East tensions. As reported earlier in this series, China quickly condemned the strikes and urged a halt to hostilities.
At a March 12 press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun reiterated that the war 'should not have happened and benefits no one.' Foreign Minister Wang Yi has since held phone calls with counterparts from 11 countries—including Russia, Oman, Iran, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Pakistan—urging an immediate ceasefire, return to dialogue, and political solutions.
China's special envoy for the Middle East, Zhai Jun, conducted shuttle diplomacy: on Sunday in Riyadh, he met Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud; on Tuesday, he visited the UAE to meet Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. All parties praised China's impartial mediation.
Iran's UN ambassador reported over 1,300 civilian deaths and 9,669 sites destroyed. The US confirmed 140 troops injured and a seventh service member killed. Iran retaliated against US assets, striking civilian facilities.
During China's annual two sessions, Wang Yi emphasized that force solves nothing and breeds crises. As a UN Security Council permanent member, China will uphold justice, promote its Global Security Initiative, and avoid taking sides—unlike some Western nations—while prioritizing halted operations and resumed talks to prevent spillover.
